CHAPTER 22: All The Time In The World

"Asian Dawn?" Kyoko giggled as she reread the name in English. "Who the hell's gonna take a name like that seriously?"

"The authorities." Homura answered. "Should they proceed to show any competence towards their jobs, that is."

"So how does posing as a terrorist group work towards our objective of evacuating the city and bringing in other magical girls?" Mami asked the hologram. It had been approximately thirty-two hours since their last meeting, during which time the Security and Tactical Program had printed out its proposal.

"It is a standard procedure for the police to evacuate those in proximity to threatened areas." The Junko Kaname hologram explained. Madoka and Sayaka were together on the futon watching the strategy session between the magical girls.

"Ain't it weird seein' your mom like that?" Sayaka asked her recently-reconciled friend.

"A little bit." Madoka stared quietly at the hologram's face. It may have looked and sounded like an approximation of her mother, but there was still something she felt was uncanny about its image, and she couldn't quite verbalize exactly what bothered her about it.

"What'd you say to your folks that let you come here?" Sayaka asked.

"I told them I was going to a teacher's house for some tutoring." Madoka answered.

"I guess that's... Technically true." Sayaka checked on her phone, a recently acquired model which her parents had installed a tracking app to. She was supposed to be at an orientation meeting for her new dishwashing job. Fortunately for the rest of her day, the meeting ended quickly. No new messages. She sighed a big sigh of relief.

"I'm going to plant some of my bombs in some of the most densely trafficked public spaces." Homura pointed at a projected map from the console screen. "And at some of the most vital points of infrastructure." She lightly tossed her hair. "Don't worry. They'll all be dummy bombs. Save for the devices we're going to plant for demonstrative purposes."

"Once you have their attention, you're going to demand the immediate release of these individuals presently imprisoned within the Japanese legal justice system, as well as a case review of these other printed individuals." A pair of lists printed out from a slot below the main console.

"This is nearly a hundred people." The young Time Lady fingered her way down the list. "What's so special about 'em?"

"These individuals are all cases whose confessions were often coerced by officials, or the methods of obtaining the evidence against them were dubious, or testimony against them was either mistaken or fabricated. And all of them are of either ethnic or demographic minorities, hence the continental implications of the name."

"And you're absolutely certain that they're all innocent?" Mami questioned.

"While there is no certainty, my evaluative matrix calculated the odds of each of their innocence anywhere from ninety-eight point seven five one, to ninety-nine poine nine nine nine."

"As confident as statistical evaluation can be." Homura asserted.

"To think there are so many innocent people in jail." The young Time Lady lamented.

"It is, tragically, all too common for those with political power to utilize the framework of their legal systems as a means to suppress and scapegoat those without power, simply to serve their own ends and perpetuate the illusion of peace and stability among the ignorant and complacent masses. That is true not just in this world, but throughout the entire Universe." The hologram appeared almost sad about that.

"Was that the kind of crap Miss Jones was fighting against?" Time Lady Sayaka wondered.

"Hey!" Her human counterpart elbowed her friend. "You're phone's buzzin'!" She whispered.

"Sorry!" Madoka apologized. "Forgot it was on!"

"Really? There's reception in here? Crap!" She'd hoped to pass off her ensuing lack of contact with her own parents as a failure of her new phone. Now she'd have to think up a different lie.

"Kyosuke sent a picture of another doodle he made."

"Oh..." Sayaka passively looked over her friend's shoulder at the picture. "Neat! I didn't even know he liked to draw! Heh-Heh!" She blushed.

"He also wants me to come by and meet his parents later." Madoka could tell that keeping her apprised of their budding relationship was making her friend a bit uncomfortable.

"I met them a buncha times. Went to an amusement park once with them too!" Sayaka gawkily looked elsewhere. "They're pretty nice, I guess."

"So what spots are we gonna be blowing up?" Her counterpart approached the console.

"Public places presently cordoned off, such as the section of this mall under renovation, as well as non vital objects of infrastructure, such as a fossil fuel energy plant scheduled for decommissioning." The holographic Junko projected a list. "We will commence with their destruction during the night so as to further minimize the risk of casualties."

"The Shinto Shrine?" Mami grimaced. "But my parents and I used to have picnics under the cherry blossoms there all the time when I was in grade school."

"If it's any consolation," Homura spoke. "That shrine gets leveled by Walpurgisnacht's attack in every timeline I've traveled." She could plainly see that it was cold comfort to her magical elder. "But some of the cherry blossoms are far away enough they should make it through the ordeal."

"Hold on a sec! Can I ask something too? About the damage?" The human Sayaka raised her hand.

"Yeah." Her Time Lady counterpart yielded the floor. "Go on."

"So you're gonna blow up the part that's under construction. I got that. But what about the rest of the mall when Walpurgisnacht comes?"

"I don't have knowledge of the fate of every single landmark in town." Homura flatly answered.

"Are you asking because you're really worried about the mall?" Her counterpart followed. "Or because you don't wanna start that job of yours so soon?" She could tell by the self-conscious look on her human version's face precisely which answer it was.

"What about our school?" Madoka sheepishly asked.

"And Nagisa's?" Nagisa finally chimed in. While the others planned, she had been distracting herself by whirling around the entire room in Miss Jones's wheeled desk chair in a race with an imaginary opponent.

"Our school does get damaged." Homura answered. "At the least, I've witnessed its exterior windows all get shattered. I couldn't tell you the fate of the nearby Elementary building."

"Some days off from school, at least." Madoka's friend rubbed her sleeves. "Good thing, too. Hitomi still won't talk to me. And I haven't figured exactly what I'm supposed to say to her." She muttered to herself.

"So Okay, I still don't quite get somethin'." Kyoko chimed in. "How's pretendin' we're terrorists and causin' a ruckus 'supposed to bring other magical girls here?"

"We're anticipating," Homura briefly paused. "That is to say, hoping that some of the more civic-minded magical girls from the neighboring towns will come here to investigate the cause."

"Well, if I were a magical girl," Mami postulated. "And I received news that a city near mine was engulfed in sudden chaos, I'd go there to see whether or not a witch was the root cause of it."

"Tch. Greeeeeeat." Kyoko rolled her eyes. "More Mamis. Just what we need. As if one weren't already pushy enough!"

"Look, it's aggravating enough to have to put up with your mouth in private, Kyoko." Mami lambasted. "But don't think that I'm going to tolerate open insubordination out there in the battlefield for a single second!"

"'Insubordination'?" Kyoko erupted. "Oh, what am I, yer lieutenant? What, is my costume also a uniform? Ha! Fat chance I'm ever salutin' you!"

"I don't expect blind obedience. But I do expect you to set an example." Mami retorted. "As my former student and colleague both your attitude and behavior reflect on my standing. How will the other girls view me if they notice my juniors acting without some discipline?"

"Oh, wow!" Kyoko stepped toward Mami and snorted. "Y'know, Sayaka pegged ya' exactly right! You really are the Queen Bee type!" She provocatively poked her senior on the chest.

"Guys! Guys!" The young Time Lady barged herself between them. "Arguing isn't strategizing! I know you've said some hurtful things to each other in the past, but I also know you're both good people trying to do your best in a tough spot!"

"Indeed." Homura tugged Kyoko back by her hand. "If we've any hope of a future, we must first resolve to let our pasts die."

"While psychological evaluation is more an ancillary feature to my core program," The holographic Junko stepped in. "It doesn not take extensive knowledge of the subject to know that interpersonal tension is a prevalent cause of disunity, and will not be conducive to victory in battle." She dissolved and reformed in a spot between the four. "Might I suggest you relieve such stress by interacting with one another in a more worry-free, hospitable environment?"

"Are you talking about a vacation?" Mami gruffly put her hands to her hips. "I appreciate the concern, but I don't think we have the time to waste on relaxation." She shook her head. "Much less the time it takes to plan and book one."

"Not a vacation. A simple day off would suffice." She smiled. "Take it right here aboard the TARDIS." The console behind her beeped loudly. "It would seem that our time is almost up. We shall have to resume battle planning next session."

"We'll carry out phase one the evacuation operation tomorrow night." Homura assured.

"Then make it so. Until such time, the paludarium on deck seventeen should serve as a sufficiently relaxing destination." She faded out. "Oh, and be sure to bring along swimsuits. A selection shall be readied in the Wardrobe Room." Her disembodied voice said over the intercom. "Sayaka can show you where."


"What we all should be doing right now is taking part in some sparring practice." Mami protested as they all shuffled their way into the Wardrobe Room.

"And I know just the place we can do that." The young Time Lady Sayaka pressed the button on a control panel. "But later. I say she's right. If we're too wound up, we'll fall apart once this city needs us the most. Let's take an afternoon off and relax." A vast selection of swimsuits whooshed out of the walls between them.

"You're seriously going to go along with this?" Mami incredulously glanced at Homura.

"I do nothing but plan, predict, plot and practice in every single timeline I can recall." Homura picked two purple swimsuits from the selection, one a one piece and the other a two piece. "If a minor digression is a necessary ingredient to ultimate success, then I'll do what I must."

"That is definitely your color." The Time Lady Sayaka lauded. She turned her attention to Kyoko. "You wanna pick one out, too?"

"Nah, I'll just wear the one I got." Kyoko pulled at her shirt and pointed at her chest.

"You mean," The human Sayaka looked at her. "That one Miss Jones bought for you?"

"Yeah! Of course!"

"You mean… You're already wearing it?"

"Yeah! Of course!" Everyone turned and stared at her. "What? Warm clothing's warm clothing!" Both Sayakas burst into a huge uproarious laughter, while everyone else politely snickered. Kyoko's cheeks blushed an apple-colored shade of red. "What? You know the last time someone bought me new clothes?"

"Okay, you're right, you're right." The young Time Lady apologized. "That was insensitive." She lightly elbowed her still chuckling counterpart in the back. "We're sorry."

"My turn! My turn!" Nagisa promptly ran up and grabbed a two piece swimsuit in her size with a white dotted-patterning. The top was a brownish-red with pink straps, while the bottom was both pink and frilly along the strap.

"Well, I'm glad one of us can lay claim to being the most enthusiastic participant." Mami confidently stepped forward and immediately made her selection. A one piece yellow suit with belts and buckles along the waist. She turned around and noticed that the others weren't exactly on board with her decision. "What? What's wrong with this one?"

"Erm. Nothing." Homura's eyes shifted away.

"It's fine." Sayaka murmured.

"Totally fine." Her Time Lady counterpart also murmured.

"C'moooooon!" Kyoko teased her. "When ya' got it... Flaunt it!" Everyone else's faces blushed a bright red.

"This one! This one!" Except for Nagisa, who swiftly leapt and snatched a larger-sized version of her own white-dotted swimsuit with a reverse color scheme.

"Gee, I…" Mami uncomfortably laughed.

"A marked improvement." Homura chimed.

"I like it." Time Lady Sayaka nodded.

"Me too." Her counterpart agreed.

"Yaaaaay!" The little magical girl cheered her choice.

"Weeeeell, okay." Mami relented. "I do like this color match."

"Madoka, it's your turn." Her Time Lady friend encouraged her.

"Uhm," She had remained silent in the room until now. Though two swimsuits had caught her eye. One was a pink spotted white two piece with a flower on the strap and a bow between the cups, and a double-frilled bottom. The other was a white-spotted pink two piece with a frilly strap with another bow, plus an additional pair of bows at the side of the frilly bottom. "I don't know. Which one do you guys like better?"

"The white one with the flower." Homura voted.

"Yeah, definitely." The young Time Lady agreed.

"I dunno," Her human friend dissented. "I kinda like the three bowed one better!"

"What?" Her counterpart questioned. "But the flowered one really brings out her cuteness!"

"But the bows match the ones in her hair." Sayaka specified. "Way too good a match to pass up!"

"Isn't that a little on the nose, though?" The Other Sayaka wondered.

"I think the pink one has merit, too." Mami concurred with the human Sayaka.

"Pink top, pink middle, pink bottom." Kyoko voted with Mami and her human friend. "Keep it simple, ya' stupids!"

"What do you think?" Madoka asked the eager Nagisa. She skipped right over to Homura's side. The vote was tied at three apiece.

"If you wear the white one," Homura offered. "I'll let you choose which of these two swimsuits I'll wear."

"Hey, that's bribery!" Kyoko objected.

"Put on the two-piece one, Can I help tie the strap around your neck, Homura?" Madoka affectionately winked.

"Oh, the democratic process, forever tainted!" The Sayaka beside her sarcastically swooned. Then she stepped forward and examined her choices. "I like this one!" She picked out an orange and yellow-striped two piece with a bow for a strap both near the left shoulder and a second, purely aesthetic bow-tied lacing under the breast. "Even better, I don't have to pay for it!"

"You might wanna slip this thing over your other piece, though." Her Time Lady Twin unracked a frill-lined, short-cut pair of jean shorts and pointed at the bikini-thin second piece. She leaned closer. "We wouldn't want them all visiting Hokkaido today, would we?" She whispered.

"N- No." The blushing Sayaka grabbed it and shuffled over to Kyoko.

"I guess that means it's my turn." The young Time Lady examined her bevy of options.

"That blue and orange one on your left would look cute on you." Mami suggested.

"That two-piece white one is nice too." Madoka chimed.

"Can I pick? Can I pick?" Nagisa begged and begged.

"Will ya' hurry up and pick already?" Kyoko pushed.

"Let her make her decision." Homura pled.

"There it is!" Sayaka had spotted her choice. A blue one-piece with an extra two-button white covering over the exposed stomach part.

"Looks… Like your magical outfit." Homura commented.

"Yeah." Sayaka agreed as she took it off the racking. "And that's why I like it."

"Hooooooooooolyyyyyyyyyy craaaaaaaaap!" Kyoko exclaimed. The girls had just arrived on deck seventeen, where to their surprise an endlessly vast, pristine beach was awaiting them.

"Is this really an entire environment?" Mami gasped.

"Just when I thought this place couldn't surprise me again." Homura stepped out onto the sandy shore. "A holographic sun?"

"Seems to be." The Time Lady Sayaka speculated. "Alongside environmental controls that precisely simulate the day and night cycle."

"C'mon, guys!" Sayaka ran out towards the cresting waves. "Last one in's a rotten egg!"

"Let's go, Madoka." The young Time Lady grabbed her best friend by the hand. "Huh?" She noticed the others not so eager to follow. "Something wrong, guys?"

"I…" Kyoko embarrassedly looked to the ground and dug her foot around the sand. "Can't swim." She barely-audibly admitted.

"I spent the vast majority of my youth in churches and hospitals." Homura stated. "I didn't have much recreational time near water. I can't swim, either."

"Mami, what about you?"

"Well of course I can swim." She reflexively took the little Nagisa's hand. "But I can already tell that she can't. So would you appreciate it if I taught you?" Nagisa rapidly nodded her head as if eager to consent.

"Madoka, will you teach me?" Homura politely took her other hand.

"Okay." Madoka clenched it tightly.

"Not to worry, Kyoko," Sayaka glided over to her friend. "I taught Madoka, I can teach you, too!"

"Huh, whaddaya know." The young Time Lady looked around at all the friends around her. "I'm the odd duck out." She surveyed the scenery along the beach. The reflective shimmer of something metal not far away drew her attention.

"A volleyball net?" Though intact, it had been knocked down as the steady beating of the waves washed away the sand mounds supporting the poles.

"Good. Now hold your breath and stick your arms out like so." Mami instructed Nagisa. Nagisa keenly obliged. "Great! Now kick your legs, gently, one after the other." Mami tightly held Nagisa by the chest as she kicked. "Whaaaa!" Mami suddenly exclaimed. Something small and slimy had grazed the back of her thigh underwater. "What was that?"

"Yaddlefish." Nagisa cooed. She then effortlessly rolled her body over, held her breath and stuck her entire face into the water. "Yaaaaaaadle! Yaaaaaaaaadle!" She gurgled, floating away from Mami's arms, attempting to chase after an entire school of youngling fish. "Yaaaaaaadle! Yaaaaaaaadle!"

"Now don't go floating out too far away!" Mami warned as she quickly chased her pupil down.

"Sayaka!" Kyoko was anxiously awaiting her swimming lesson. Hey! Sayaka!" She called again as her friend bobbed in and out of the water. "Whaddaya doin'?"

"Looking for sea cucumbers." She bobbed and looked down, then came back up.

"Why?"

"I hate 'em." She did it a third time.

"What? Why?"

"Everything about 'em just creeps me the heck out." She said after popping back up.

"Rrrreally?" An impish little grin formed on Kyoko's face. She'd already thought of a few pranks she should pull on her pal, but those would have to wait until they were actually on a marine beach. "Well I wouldn't worry about 'em bein' here. We're still on a ship, ya' know?" She grabbed Sayaka by the strap of her swimsuit, stopping her from dunking herself another time. "Plus, this stuff's fresh water anyway. Tastes real clean. Haven't ya' noticed?"

"No." Sayaka cupped a taste. "You're right. Not salty."

"Now can we do this already?"

"Way to go, Homura!" Madoka was impressed with her swimming student's rapid progress. "You're doing great!"

"Only because I have such a good teacher." She noticed Sayaka watching her from the shore. "Let's take a break for a bit. You can go help teach the others if you wish."

"Been watching you from over here." Sayaka was putting the finishing touches on setting up the volleyball net. "You liar. You've already learned how to swim somewhere, haven't you?"

"A bit, yes." Homura replied. "Though I'm certainly no expert at it." She picked up a large rock and assisted Sayaka in pounding the metal rods into place. "There's a sporting goods store near where the TARDIS relocated. I could go buy a volleyball there."

"Actually, I found one over by those bushes." Sayaka said. "Says it's self-inflating on the label, too." She smiled. "One of those tiny conveniences that still gives me hope for the future."

"Mami's less imperious and much cannier when she's looking out for someone smaller and weaker." Homura watched the others at play. "And Kyoko's less mercurial and more amicable once she lets her guard down." She lightly sighed. "It was quite shrewd of that hologram to send us all to a place like this together."

"Well if she scanned their brains like she said she scanned ours," Sayaka posited. "She might know how they tick better than they do. Maybe you and me, too!"

"That's called a 'Doggie Paddle,' Kyoko." Sayaka said to her pupil.

"Well it's workin' ain't it?" Kyoko cheerfully grinned. "I'm swimmin' around aren't I?"

"That's how little kids do it!" Sayaka snickered. Once Nagisa overheard her comment, she started to emulate Kyoko's swimming style. "Ya' see?"

"Do you think Miss Jones came to this beach whenever she needed time away?" Homura noticed a folded set of beach chairs nestled between a pair of small trees.

"Maybe," Sayaka answered. "But she also told me she used to travel around with others. It's possible they left all this stuff laying around, too."

"Both of you, try and stretch your whole bodies out like this." Madoka suggested, seeming to take over Kyoko and Nagisa's swimming lessons. She started in a doggie paddle, then quickly transitioned over to a regular stroke. "Like this."

"There you go! Do what she's doin'." Sayaka said of her friend's example.

"Hey guys!" The young Time Lady Sayaka finally called out. "Check it out! You up for some volleyball when you're done swimming?"

"I don't know the rules." Kyoko whispered to Sayaka as they all later gathered around the volleyball net.

"I'll be on Madoka's team." Homura took Madoka by the hand.

"We're not really playing by the formal rules or anything." Sayaka replied. "Just hit it over the net and inbounds somewhere on the other team's side." She pointed at the outlines dug into the sand. "Wherever between the boundary lines."

"Oh." Kyoko nodded and smirked. "Yeah! I can do that!"

"So with seven people," The human Sayaka said, "Who's going to have to be the odd girl out?"

"You guys can play," Nagisa volunteered. "Nagisa can watch."

"Have you ever played Volleyball before?" Mami gently asked. Nagisa simply shook her head. "Then you don't have to sit out. I'll teach you how to play." She put her hands on the young girl's shoulders. "You can be on my team."

"I don't see that there has to be any person excluded." Homura noted. "It's not as if this is going to be a serious competitive exercise."

"So whose team do you guys wanna be on?" The young Time Lady asked her counterpart and Kyoko.

"Theirs." The two girls said in unison, pointing towards Homura and Madoka.

"Okay then," The Time Lady summed up. "Two humans and two magical girls against three magical girls." She stepped towards Mami's side of the net. "'Bout as fair as we can spread it, I guess."

"Since we outnumber you," Homura offered, "You may take the first serve."

"Now you place your hand under the ball," Mami explained to Nagisa. "Make a fist with your other hand," She positioned herself for the first serve. "And hit it over the net to their side." Mami made a forceful first serve.

"I got it! I got it!" Kyoko slapped it right back at them.

"Right back at ya'!" Sayaka cupped her hands and volleyed it in her counterpart's direction.

"Got it!" Sayaka dove to her knee and popped it lazily back into the air. It nicked the top of the net and came back their way. "Kyoko, save it!"

"What?" Kyoko stood there confused.

"I got it!" Madoka rushed in and made the save instead.

"You mean you can hit it again?" Kyoko questioned.

"As many times as you need 'til it goes back over!" Sayaka replied.

"Ow!" Madoka's hit plopped off the top of the unwitting Nagisa's head.

"Oh! Are you okay?" Mami hustled over and slapped back again.

"Yeah!" Nagisa meekly responded.

"This kill is mine!" Homura rushed forth, leapt and spiked the ball.

"Woah!" The young Time Lady unsuccessfully dove after the ball. The first point went to Homura's team. "Nice moves!" She complimented.

"No. Beginner's luck." Homura flipped her hair.

"Way to go, Homura!" Madoka cheered.

"First to twenty one points wins," Mami proposed, "But you have to win by two points."

"Sounds acceptable." Homura took the ball and set up for her serve.

"What if it's twenty one to twenty then?" Kyoko asked.

"Keep playing 'til someone's two ahead." Sayaka answered.

"Oh." Kyoko nodded. "Yer gonna haveta explain more as we go!"

"The serve is up!" Homura bopped the ball up.

"Back at ya'!" Sayaka countered.

"Mine!" Her counterpart called out and swatted it back.

"Hup!" Nagisa grunted as she cupped her hands and bopped it just over the netting.

"Woof!" The diving Kyoko just missed the counter.

"I did it!" Nagisa celebrated.

"Way to go!" Mami enthusiastically cheered the young lady.

"You should've had that!" Sayaka groaned. "You totally let her score on purpose, didn't ya'?" Sayaka whispered.

"Tch!" Kyoko smirked. "Can't prove nuthin'!"

"Tied at one!" Mami handed Nagisa the ball for the next serve. "We're just getting started!"

"Game point!" Madoka called. A half-hour later, it had been a back-and-forth game, with her team now ahead twenty to nineteen.

"I have it!" Mami slapped it back.

"I've got it." Homura cupped her hands and volleyed it over.

"All mine!" The Time Lady whacked it hard.

"That's it!" Kyoko brazenly jumped into the air. "Game over!" She spiked it as hard as she could towards the gap between Nagisa and Mami. The ball landed with such force that it bounced and rolled into the bushes by the shore.

"You did it!" Madoka congratulated the redhead. "Way to go, Kyoko!"

"I admit, that was pretty enjoyable." Homura stated.

"Did you have a lot of fun?" Mami asked the young lady beside her.

"Yeah, yeah!" Nagisa eagerly squeaked. "Can we play again?"

"You hit it, you fetch it, Kyoko." Sayaka confidently patted her friend's back.

"Fine, fine!" Kyoko trotted over to the area where the ball rolled. "Hey, guys!" She sighted something that interested her in behind the bushes. "I know what we can do next!" She forcefully kicked the ball back over the bushes and picked up a large, green and round-looking plant. "Suikawari! There's a whole watermelon patch back here!"

"Oh, I haven't played that game in years!" Mami reminisced. "Not since the last time I spent the summer at my family's beach house!" She turned to Nagisa. "Have you ever tried to play it before?" Nagisa shook her head.

"Welp, today's your lucky day!" Kyoko tore a long, thick, low-hanging dead branch off a nearby tree. "Nuthin' to it!" She plunked the watermelon down on a level spot on a folded chair. "Sayaka, blindfold me and spin me around real quick!"

"Gotcha!" Her human friend complied, tying a long sock around her head, then spinning her around and around.

"Kyoko, I-" The young Time Lady tried to interrupt.

"She'll figure it out." Homura stopped her.

"You guys-" Madoka also tried to stop them, as Kyoko wobbled around looking for the spot she placed the melon. She stubbed her toe on the chair, then reared back for the killing swing. "Hiiiiiiiiii-" She shouted and swung down as hard as she could. "Yaaaaa!" But she completely whiffed. "The hell?" She peeked from under her blindfold and watched the watermelon quickly scuttle its way into the sea like a crab.

"I'm pretty sure those weren't watermelons." The young Time Lady, Homura, Nagisa, Mami and Madoka witnessed the rest of its kin in the patch simultaneously sprout legs, get up from their nesting spot and shuffle off into the water along with it. The entire group burst into a tremendous laughter.


"You really do this every night?" Kyoko whispered to Homura as they hid in the brush just outside the local JSDF base.

"No." Homura replied. "Only after they receive new shipments of weapons." She peeked from out of their hiding place. "Which is typically every Tuesday."

"If yer really so experienced with doin' this," Kyoko grumbled, sticking a Pocky in her mouth. "Then why the hell am I here?"

"First, because my time stopping magic is a finite resource that I'd rather save the remaining bulk of for Walpurgisnacht, so while I attain the necessary items, I'm going to need you to function as a lookout." The coast was clear. "Second, because by now they've probably noticed the things I took in my previous raids are missing and have amplified their security to compensate, so I may need the use of your illusion magic," She took Kyoko by the hand and they dashed ahead. "And third, because this'll serve as a cooperative exercise for us both."

"I can make six more of myself and project stuff sometimes. Big deal." Kyoko said. "Dunno how useful that's gonna be here."

"They can chase around the six of you instead of the two of us." Homura countered. "But if everything goes right, then it shouldn't come to that." They effortlessly cleared the tall barbed-wire fencing around the base. They made their way carefully towards the main ordnance warehouse. "As I expected," She peered through the window. "They moved their stock to the secondary location."

"And where's that 'sposed to be?"

"The basement." Homura pointed towards the main headquarters.

"Ooookayyyyy," Kyoko watched the heavily-armed guards patrolling around the building. "How are we gettin' down there?"

"First option, we sneak past the guards, then carefully navigate the hallways and dodge both the security cameras and additional guards inside."

"Sounds like a real pain in the ass."

"I agree." Homura added, "And would be quite magic-intensive, which would defeat the purpose of the operation. So that leaves Option Two."

"And that's..."

"Directly enter the room adjacent to the basement storage. Which would be the Boiler Room." She pointed at the chimney atop the headquarters.

"Sooooo… We're gonna pull a Santa Claus act down the chimney?"

"Santa Claus?"

"He's a fat red guy who goes around givin' toys to kids,'' Kyoko paused. "Anyway, they say he can magically squeeze in tight spaces like chimneys and pipes and stuff."

"Fortunately, the old boiler has been removed and replaced while the remaining shaft is just wide enough to accommodate our body sizes." Homura took Kyoko's hand and they dashed for their next hiding position. "The problem is that there's a metal covering welded over the spot where the old one used to exist. So we'll need to dislodge it with sufficient explosive force first."

"That sounds like it's gonna be loud." Kyoko and Homura magically parkoured from window ledge to window ledge, before finally reaching the flat rooftop of the headquarters a half dozen stories above.

"Indeed." The hastily trotted over to the other side of the building. "Which is why we'll need to generate a distraction sufficient enough to get everyone's attention."

"Take it ya' got an idea?"

"Yes." Homura pointed out towards all the helicopters, fighter jets, tanks and vehicles around the surrounding base. "Activate all the heavy machinery on the base. The collective noise generated by their engines should be enough to drown out the sound of an explosion. Plus it'll draw away their security teams."

"Tch. And how're ya' gonna do that?"

"With this." Homura took a glowing wand out from behind her buckler. It was one of Miss Jones's leftover tools. "Miss Jones wrote down which settings can jumpstart combustion engines."

"Be my guest." Kyoko insisted. Homura pointed the wand at a nearby tank then pressed a button, and a second later its engine started and revved. She did it again on the tank next to it, and so forth. She slightly adjusted a knob on the bottom, pointed it at a helicopter, and its blades were sent spinning.

"Uhhhhhh, Sir!" A Lieutenant burst into his Commander's office. "We've got a weird situation brewing outside!"

Homura made another adjustment on the wand. "And this will give them something to do." That made all the cars and personnel tanks' gears switch from "Park" to first, sending them each into a slow roll along the runways. They watched with satisfaction as all the personnel abandoned their posts and chased down every vehicle on the loose. The cacophony of noise happening all around them was nearly deafening.

"Nnnniiiiiiice!" Kyoko cheered.

"Let's go!" Homura tugged Kyoko's sleeve and they proceeded over to the chimney top. She took out a pair of hand grenades and dropped them down the shaft.

"I take it you've done this before?" Kyoko covered her ears.

"Quite a few times." Homura answered. "But before tonight, I had to put a lot more planning into the distractions." They watched the flashes go off at the bottom of the shaft and let the remnant smoke puff out from the top. "I'll go first."

"Hey, not arguin'." Kyoko smirked. Homura smoothly dove feet-first down the chimney. Kyoko heard a somewhat-pained grunt echo upwards as she neared bottom. "Problem?"

"It's a little tighter than I anticipated." Homura telepathically messaged. "But it's not restrictive enough to impede us." She kicked several times at the damaged covering. "I'm in."

"Alright!" Kyoko excitedly darted down the shaft. "Santa, eat yer heart out!"

"There!" Homura whispered, identifying their target. "That's the basement."

"Pretty fancy lock." Kyoko examined the keypad beside the door. "Got a plan for that too?"

"This is the point where the use of magic used to be necessary." Homura changed the settings on the wand device and pointed it at the keypad. A purple glow emanated from its tip. A split second later and the keypad sparked as the door locks clicked open.

"Jackpot!" Kyoko exclaimed as they gazed upon their treasure.

"Now here is where magic is a necessity. So keep watch." Homura commanded. "We'll have only a minute or two before someone notices the electronic lock has been disabled." She prepared to spin the buckler attached to her arm. "Which should be more than enough time for me." She spun it and vanished before her comrade's eyes.

"Geez, and I thought I was a big-shot pickin' pockets!"

"Almost done." Homura continued stuffing bombs, launchers and explosives into her buckler. After a mere seconds from Kyoko's perspective, all the small and medium sized ordinances in the room had been cleared out.

"Let's go!" Homura flipped her hair and trotted back out.

"Ain't gotta tell me twice!" The alarm sounded nearby.

"Alright, it's going to be a long, slow climb back up," Homura inspected the remains of the partially destroyed shaft. "But we can manage. You go first while I neutralize the-"

"Ooooooooor," Kyoko tugged at Homura's shoulder. "We can just head out that window!" Homura had apparently missed the singular, locked basement window unobtrusively positioned at the back of the boiler room.

"Uggggghhhh!" Homura embarrassedly groaned. "I swear, that did not exist any of the previous times."

"Aw, don't sweat it! Just means yer not a total know-it-all, afterall!" Kyoko slyly grinned and patted her companion's back. "Which is good, 'cause I wouldn't like ya' as much if ya' were!"

"There appears to be a security sensor attached at the base," Homura examined. "Tripping it will cause a barred gate to come down immediately once it's triggered."

"No prob! Use yer funky time magic and let's bail!" They could hear footsteps marching down the stairs.

"As I said before, I'd prefer to use it only when it's absolutely necessary."

"Fine!" Kyoko sensed there was no time to bicker over the issue. She formed her magical spear, cut into the sensor, busted the window and jammed the gate open using her weapon as a wedge. "Keeeeeepin' it simple! Now haul ass!"

"You there! Stop!" The Security Officer shouted at the red-clad figure climbing through the window. He reached for the gun in his holster. "This is your last warning! I'm authorized to shoot! Stop, or I'll fire!" He quickly lunged after her leg, just as the gate finally came crashing down.

"Shit! Sir, the armory! It's been-"

"All security stations, an intruder has been sighted fleeing the auxiliary armory, Sector Zero-One! You are hereby authorized the use of lethal force!"

"This is Ogawa, Station Three." The guard radioed. "The suspect is headed for the west fence!" He fired a round at her, only for it to miss and ricochet off the chain-link fence. Then to his utter astonishment, she seemingly passed right through the fence like a ghostly spectre. "What the hell?"

"This is Station Six! Sir, I'm chasing a suspect through the parking lot. Suspect's about one-point five meters tall, wearing what appears to be a red cloak!" His target dodged underneath a transport bus, then zipped behind a tree, where she promptly disappeared.

"This is Station Five! I'm chasing a suspect on the tarmac. Will somebody stop these infernal machines already?" She leapt over the hood of a slowly-rolling car, dashed over to a helicopter with its blades whirling, and shot straight for the fencing a hundred meters away.

"Not bad, girls!" The real Kyoko and her accomplice Homura, meanwhile, were already clear of the base, watching from the protection of the wild brush. "Not bad at all!" She snapped her fingers and each one of her clones vanished into thin air.

"Come on." Homura took her by the hand. "I think we've humiliated them enough for now." The two girls retreated into the darkness.


"What the hell do you mean, a bunch of red-cloaked cultists raided your base?" The Mitakihara City Emergency Management Director incredulously yelled into her phone. It was late at night, and she had just been alerted to the breach at the base. "Is this some kind of joke?" She was also very tired and quite cranky.

"Uh, Ma'am?" Her subordinate interrupted. "There's a call on Line Two... I really think you need to be taking it!"

"Geez! What is it now?" Suddenly, there was a rolling sound of thunder in the distance, the whole room faintly trembling as it rumbled on.

"I don't believe it! They put me on hold!" Kyoko complained. "The hell kinda idiot puts a terrorist on hold?"

"It's most likely a stalling tactic." Homura said. "I suspect they're attempting to trace the call."

"The police are running tracing software on it, yes?" The suddenly harried Director asked of her subordinate.

"Yes, Ma'am," He replied. "But whoever they are, they specifically asked to speak to the Emergency Management Director. The police say they need you to buy them some time."

"Are you sure you can read everything in this script, Kyoko?" Mami asked. "There are a lot of complicated words in here."

"Would you chill already?" Kyoko snatched the page away. "I got this!"

"With whom am I speaking?" The Emergency Management Director finally spoke on the line."

"For too long this government has systematically oppressed these underprivileged souls, whose only crime was being born to the wrong house, the wrong class, the wrong race, or the wrong religion, with no one in power willing to take on the role of advocate." The distorted voice announced in an unnatural, seemingly rehearsed English.

The thunder of another explosion rolled through the background, as the Director's face turned a pale, sickly white. "English, huh?" She cleared her throat and replied in a stilted English. "Answer this... Are you the cultists who raided our army base?"

"Well no longer!" The voice completely dodged her question. "Today, a new dawn rises upon this land! We are 'Asian Dawn!'" Kyoko briefly pulled the phone away to let out a barely stifled snicker. "We fight for these souls' right to be treated fairly! To be treated as citizens! To be treated as equals!"

"Anything on the trace?" The Director whispered to her subordinate.

"We demand the immediate release of these unjustly imprisoned persons, with for third party case reviews of all individuals involved in other discriminatory convictions!"

Homura pushed another remote detonator button. "Any casualties?"

"None, thank goodness." Mami scrolled through the data relayed by the TARDIS sensors.

"It's somewhere in… Pakistan?" The subordinate relayed. "No… Now they're saying Djibouti? Wait… Mcmurdo Station? Seriously ?" The authorities listening in were just as confused as he was.

"We're getting an Email from a domain originating in The Czech Republic." Another subordinate came through the door. "It's a list of names of the prisoners they seem to want released." Another explosion rumbled in the background as the lights above dimmed.

"Shit!" The Director exclaimed. "They're professionals! Giving us the runaround!"

"The reason we address you, is because we have selected Mitakihara City as the first target of our wrath, should your nation's government fail to comply. As I am sure you are aware by now, several coordinated detonations have occurred throughout your fair city, and every day our demand is not met another landmark in this town shall be destroyed!" The voice briefly paused. "So if I were you, I'd get to evacuatin' this whole town, soon as ya' can," It said in Japanese. "That's all! Bye-byeeee!"

"Where did you learn to speak English that well?" Mami asked.

"Tch!" Kyoko smirked, sticking a Pocky in her mouth. "Bible studies and homeschoolin.' Good shit."

"The ship's translation system probably corrected any obvious grammatical and pronunciation mistakes." Homura stated. "If they took our warning seriously and everything goes to plan, then they should sound the citywide alarm sirens at any moment now."


"Guuuaaaahhh… It's five thirty in the morning!" Sayaka's mother groaned. She had been sleeping heavily enough to not be awakened by the town's sirens as they blared a half hour prior. It was the sudden chirping of the phone at her side that finally awakened her. "Yeah, Hon? What is it?" Her husband was calling.

"Unghhhh… Didn't you sleep at all?" The exhausted Sayaka rolled over in her own bed. The two Sayakas meanwhile, were in Sayaka's bedroom, the young Time Lady keeping herself concealed with Miss Jones's pair of beaglepuss glasses.

"Don't need to." The Time Lady replied to her counterpart. It had been over a month since she had last been in her old bedroom. In that time, she'd managed to live with her bouts of homesickness. But now with all of Mitakihara's fate in the air, she realized that this night was the only chance she'd have to be in it again before it might conceivably get destroyed. "Probably couldn't if I tried."

"What're you working on now?" Her human counterpart asked. She had reluctantly agreed to let her counterpart spend the night with her, provided she didn't keep her awake.

"I'm resetting the image projection system on the perception filter Miss Jones put in my hair clip."

"Why? What for?"

"So it can project an image of Madoka." Sayaka fingered through the brief instructions that Miss Jones had also left for her perception filter. "We're planning to put a fake Madoka in the place of the real one, when Walpurgisnacht attacks."

"Alert! Alert! This is a Special Emergency Broadcast, Presented on the Authority of The Mitakihara City Police, and The Mitakihara City Council." Her mother had just turned the television on in the living room.

"What?" Sayaka lowered her voice to a whisper. "Why?"

"Because Homura wants to keep Madoka inside the TARDIS for the duration of the battle. She's convinced it's gonna be much safer for her there than in the Community Shelter downtown. And then she gave me this look that said she's not gonna hear any argument to the contrary." She zapped the hair clip with the tip of Miss Jones's wand. "So we're going to need to fool her folks into thinking she's at the Shelter with them."

"Sayaka, get up!" Her mother burst through the doorway. "You need to get up right now!" She then noticed that her daughter had already awakened. "Oh! You're awake already?" She thought she'd seen an odd glowing light coming from the chair in the corner of the room. "Anyway, pack some clothes, your phone, your toothbrush, and whatever stupid games and tunes you need to keep quiet! We gotta get outta here, pronto!" She dismissed it as her grogginess playing tricks with her.

"Something wrong?" Sayaka already knew the answer.

"Your Dad called," She urgently strolled over to Sayaka's closet. "He says there's been a buncha bombings all over town! The authorities think a terrorist group is attacking!" She grabbed Sayaka's suitcase and flung it onto her bed. "So they want everyone in the threatened areas to pack up and either head outta town or go to an emergency shelter!"

"Sweet! No school today." Her mother shot her a very unamused glance.

"Damn, my phone!" Her mother searched her body. "Where the hell did I leave it?" She bolted out of Sayaka's room. "Now get packing!"

"Nice spendin' quality time with you too, Mom." Sayaka sighed. "You wouldn't happen to have another one of those for me too, would ya'?" Her Time Lady doppel shook her head. "So who's gonna play Madoka, then? That little girl you found?"

"You mean Nagisa? We asked her to play the role for us, but she kept insisting she could help us fight. Even threw a stubborn little tantrum over it." Sayaka turned a knob on her device. "So Homura's gonna snatch one of those life-sized dolls from The Red Light District and we're going to make a robot out of parts from the TARDIS's robotics lab." Her glowing tool made a low-sounding humming noise.

"A doll?" Sayaka leapt out of bed. "Seriously? You really think they're gonna fall for that?"

"It's better than nothing."

"But it's not enough! A robot doll's not gonna do anything but be creepy." She hastily grabbed a bunch of her street clothes from the closet. "What if they check her pulse and think she's dead or something?"

"What else can we do?" Sayaka shrugged.

"We repeat," The television blared. "City officials have confirmed at least four instances of terrorist bombing attacks throughout the city. They believe more attacks are imminent. We are presently coordinating with the JSDF to formulate a workable evacuation plan…" Her mother's phone rang again.

"Hmmm," Sayaka thought for a second. "How 'bout I play Madoka?"

"Then who would be you?" Sayaka skeptically asked. "'Cause it ain't going to be me."

"I can be me, too!" Her counterpart confidently asserted.

"Two people at once?" Sayaka could already envision a huge number of ways in which that scenario could go catastrophically wrong. "I dunno."

"Okay that was your father," Her Mother hurriedly strut into her room again. "He says they've already searched the Community Shelters for bombs and they're all clear. So we're headed to the one downtown!" She searched her body again. "Dammit! Where are my keys!" She just as promptly left.

"See? You said that's the place Madoka's family's supposed to be too, right? At least I won't have to be in two places at once."

"And what'll happen if your mask slips?"

"It won't slip! Trust me! If you can pull off a few weeks as some nobody, I can pull off a few hours as Madoka."

"You're taller."

"Program your thingy to make it look like she's wearing high boots."

"Her parents might not buy your act, either."

"We know her folks well enough to pull it off. C'moooon!" The two Sayakas stared silently at one another for a full, awkward minute.

"You're not ready, yet?" Her mother unwittingly broke the tension. "Aren't you hearing the damn news? Haul ass! Haul now!"

"What about our parents?"

"Dad's gonna be doing his job." Sayaka looked back at her busy mother. "And you and I both know Mom's gonna bury herself in a book 'til she falls asleep and the whole thing passes over."

"Hmmm." The young Time Lady gazed deeply into her counterpart's eyes.

"Trust me. Trust yourself."

"Fiiiiiiiiiine."

"Yeeees!" Sayaka hugged herself. "I promise, I won't let you guys down!"

"Breaking news… Officials have confirmed at least two additional instances of terrorist bombings throughout the city… If you see something suspicious, we encourage you to report it at once to this hotline number…"


"All the bombs have gone off as planned," Homura reported. "There seem to be no casualties thus far."

"I can confirm," The Hologram of Junko Kaname appeared before the group once again for their scheduled meeting. It had been a few hours since their campaign had begun. "All area hospitals have received no new patients whose injuries could be attributed to explosive trauma."

"Just as planned, eh?" Kyoko grinned.

"Judging by patterns in both web traffic, foot traffic, and vehicular traffic, I estimate approximately thirty-one percent of those along the most vulnerable locations have so far evacuated. Projecting the speed and efficiency with which the city is utilizing its resources, this should reach around ninety-nine point seven percent by the time of the Walpurgisnacht's attack."

"That remaining percentage may not sound like much," Mami said. "But that adds up to a lot of stragglers at least once it arrives. A few thousand at least."

"I agree." The hologram concurred. "Perhaps a follow-up detonation of a few select targets in these vulnerable areas will convince them to leave sooner? Here is a list of workable options."

"I'll get on it at once." Homura grabbed the printout.

"I'm back." Sayaka walked inside wearing the beaglepuss glasses. "Have I missed anything important?" She removed them and smiled at her compatriots.

"Not at all." The hologram answered. "The strategy meeting is barely underway. However to proceed further, I must first have the authorization of the highest ranking crew member aboard this vessel. With you being the only living crew member, and the pilot, I must attain your authorization."

"My authorization?" Sayaka pointed at herself. "Why?"

"Because the information I must share is considered classified, by Pantheon Decree number E-Eleven Zero One."

"Okay. So spill the beans."

"As you wish." She turned her attention back to the topic. "With phase one nearing completion, it is time to examine and discuss phase two." She projected a map of Mitakihara with a collection of moving dots. "This is a map displaying all concentrations of matter that you would call "magical," however since the subsystem specifically sensitive to the detection of Ectomatter is presently damaged, I have instead adjusted the sensors to search for the container element, a substance known to Gallifreyan science as E-One Two Three Omegium."

"In other words," Homura clarified. "It's all the magical girls and witches around the city.

"That is correct." The Hologram elaborated. "Unfortunately, the system cannot be calibrated to distinguish between magical girl and witch, for in the eyes of the sensors, there is no distinction, but I can report that there has been a sizable increase in activity from readings taken yesterday, an increase of over thirty eight percent."

"Great." Kyoko groaned. "More witches!"

"I think what she's really trying to say is," Mami smiled slightly. "The reinforcements we've hoped to draw to Mitakihara have come."

"While there is no conclusive evidence," The Hologram hedged. "That would seem to be a reasonable assertion.

"So what are we gonna tell them all once we find them?" Sayaka wondered. "I mean, it's one thing to confess who's really causing the bombings and warn them about Walpurgisnacht, but," She studied her companions' reactions.

"Are we also obligated to tell them everything? Of my time travelling and Miss Jones? Or the machine that functions as our Grief Seed replacement?" Homura pondered as she surveyed the room. "And the existence of this TARDIS?"

"I don't see any reason why we shouldn't." Mami asserted.

"That funky ass microwave's a big reason why I've stuck with you guys." Kyoko added. "Er, I mean, not that I wouldn't help ya' anyway even if that weren't the case." She backtracked. "So I think we should tell 'em what we've got."

"But our device is but a prototype," Homura took Miss Jones's pocket watch out of her pocket. "And there's no guarantee that this 'Dorkus' person is going to assist in developing and mass producing a more deployable version." She studied closely the intricate markings on its body.

"You wouldn't happen to know who he is, would you?" Sayaka asked the Hologram.

"That is beyond the scope of my program." She replied. "I possess only relevant biographical information on Gallifreyan individuals of either military or political significance."

"Which means," Homura studied more closely the intricate markings on its body. "We have only whatever remnant goodwill existed between Miss Jones and this person, to rely upon."

"If I hadn't actually lived through all of it, I don't think I'd believe somebody who told me all about it." She was surprised how much she agreed with Homura on this. "And I don't think we should get anyone's hopes up until we're sure this guy's gonna help."

"But if they help us defeat Walpurgisnacht and save the city, then we would greatly owe them." Mami countered.

"Yeah!" Kyoko concurred with Mami, much to her own surprise. "I sure as hell would wanna get paid big!"

"If they don't believe us at first, then we can show them this vessel." Mami suggested. "And if they still don't believe us, Miss Jones's preserved remains."

"Let's say we tell them everything, and then we all get out of this," Sayaka speculated. "And they all know we've got a time machine that can now go anywhere, to any time, what do you think they'd want to do with it? What would you guys want to do with it?"

"I'd go save my family." Mami and Kyoko said at once.

"Exactly!" Sayaka nodded. "But if you hadn't both lost your families, then you wouldn't have become the magical girls who helped shape each other's lives, you wouldn't be the same girls who met me and Homura, then you wouldn't be here helping us fight Walpurgisnacht!" Sayaka explained. "You see what I'm getting at?"

"A little." Mami stood there in a deep-thinking pose.

"What you describe is a quintessential paradox scenario." The Hologram said.

"What do you think is the first thing those other girls out there would try and do, if they had a time machine?"

"The same thing I've been trying to do," Homura answered. "Rectify past mistakes."

"Basically," Sayaka nodded more intensely. "That!"

"That's a surprisingly insightful notion, doubly so considering that it's coming from you." Homura observed.

"Hey, I toldya I've been reading that book!"

"I'll add that past experience has taught me that being completely forthright, even in instances where everyone involved had the best intentions, has led to many misunderstandings and miscalculations, and only wound up alienating those whom I'd once deeply trusted." Homura stared forlornly into Sayaka's eyes.

"Let's put it to a vote." Mami proposed. "First, who believes we should tell them about our potential Grief Seed replacement?"

"Should the assistance of 'Dorkus' become a given," Homura voted. "Yes."

"Definitely." Sayaka concurred.

"Duh!" Kyoko agreed.

"Okay, and I vote "Yes" on that as well." Mami folded her arms. "Now who votes that we tell them of this ship?"

"No." Homura voted.

"Much as I wanna," Sayaka shook her head. "Too much of a can of worms."

"Aw, bullshit!" Kyoko dissented. "What good's a time machine if ya' ain't gonna use it to fix all the bad stuff? I say show and tell!"

"Much as I agree with altruistic aspirations behind Kyoko's sentiment," Mami's eyes fixated on the main control console. "I think that if Miss Jones were the type of person who'd fix every single injustice both major and minor, then the whole world, perhaps even the Universe, would already be aware of her existence, and she'd be deified as a saint." She contemplatively sighed. "But she isn't. She simply did whatever she had to and helped in whatever way she could." She paused. "I guess in that way she really was just like us magical girls." She apologetically rubbed her comrade on the shoulder. "Sorry Kyoko. For now, this place needs to remain a secret."

"Tch! Whatever!" Kyoko conceded. "Hope this doesn't wind up bitin' us all in the ass!"

"If that is all," The Hologram punctuated. "Then I can go inactive now and store just enough power to offer advice once the Walpurgisnacht battle has commenced."

"That would be appreciated." Homura bowed.

"Thanks for everything." Sayaka bowed with her. Mami and Kyoko followed suit.

"Well then," Mami comfortingly smiled. "What are we waiting for? Let's go out there and meet our new friends!"